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HYM-House
HYM-House
Mitsuke, Japan
Jury Winner, 2026 A+Awards, Residential - Residential Renovations & Additions
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HYM-House
Mitsuke, Japan
Jury Winner, 2026 A+Awards, Residential - Residential Renovations & Additions
This renovation project began with an exploration of what a regionally grounded approach to architecture could be. The subject is a 50-year-old traditional house in Mitsuke City, Niigata Prefecture, a cold region where winter temperatures fall to around 3C. During the survey, it became clear that the existing building was not designed for cold-climate conditions. While long winters have traditionally been endured through heating, this poses major challenges in terms of comfort, cost, and environmental impact. In response, the project introduces strategies to enable a more comfortable and sustainable way of living in a cold climate. In summer, natural airflow is secured through passive ventilation, reducing dependence on air conditioning. In winter, cold air is blocked through improved insulation, while heat is efficiently generated by an appropriate heat source. Additionally, the buildings structural strength is enhanced to withstand heavy snow loads. The project therefore aims to create an architecture that embraces winter. While retaining the existing exterior, the house is wrapped with structural plywood, insulation, and metal cladding to improve thermal performance and structural integrity. Internally, the space is largely stripped back, and an irori hearth is placed at the center of the house. This hearth gently distributes warmth throughout the volume and serves as a place for gathering and shared meals, becoming the core of life during the long winter months. The metal-clad exterior abstractly preserves the original form of the house, expressing the lingering presence and atmosphere of buildings long rooted in the region. When covered in snow, the house naturally blends into the surrounding winter landscape. Many older buildings in Japan's cold regions were not built for harsh winters, so residents have relied on tolerance or energy-heavy heating. This renovation seeks an alternative reconsidering comfort and sustainability by reimagining how architecture can respond to winter.
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